SYED AHMED SHAHEED BARELVI

Q-1) Why did Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barailvi wish to

revive islam in the Sub-Continent? [7]
ans: As a man of action, Syed Ahmad was an ideal
person to act as leader to work against the British
power in India and to try to ensure that the Muslims
were ruled by fellow Muslims. He believed that the
freedom of the Muslims could only come as a result
of armed struggle against the foreign and
non-Muslim forces which were oppressing them.
Syed Ahmad believed that there was a need to end
the evils that had corrupted Islamic
society.Consequently, even when he served as an
army officer he surrounded himself with the men of
great piety who were prepared to reject worldly
wealth and work for improving the moral and
intellectual lives of Muslims. The British had ensured
that the Mughal emperors had little real power and
the Sikhs were dominant in the Punjab. Sir Syed
founded the Jihad Movement, which called for
armed struggle to overthrow non-Muslim oppression
and restore Muslim power. He believed that once
this was done Islam could be rejuvenated and
rescued from beliefs and customs contrary to Islamic
beliefs which had crept into everyday life.
Q2: Was the work of Syed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvi
the most important factor in the revival of Islam in
the period 1700-1850? Give reasons for your
answer. [14]
ANS: The work of Syed Ahmad had been a very
important factor in the revival of Islam because of
many reasons.Syed Ahmad Barelvi Shaheed was
born in 1786. He was greatly impressed by the
preaching and thoughts of Shah Waliullah. So, Syed
Ahmad Shaheed started preaching true Islam (as
Shah Waliullah did). But he was of the opinion that
there should be a political power behind the
preaching for the revival of Islam and Muslim power
in India. He founded the Jihad Movement for the
restoration and revival of Muslim power in India.His
main objective was the establishment of an Islamic
state on proper Islamic principles. Also the aim of
the Jihad Movement was to liberate the Muslims of
the Punjab and N.W.F.P from the Sikh rule. At that
time (beginning of 19th century) Punjab and N.W.F.P
were under the Sikh rule of Ranjit Singh. Muslims
were facing great difficulty in following their religion
in this area. Therefore, Syed Ahmad chose Punjab
and N.W.F.P for his activities. He also expected help
from the Afghan and Pathan tribes of N.W.F.P.Syed
Ahmad established his headquarters at Nowshera.
His first encounters against the Sikh forces took
place at Okora in which the Mujahideen were
successful. The jihad movement ended in 1831, but
it was a brave and determined movement effort for
the revival of Islam and Muslim power. Syed
Ahmad’s example continued to inspire the future
Muslim generations.The work of Syed Ahmad was
important but the work of another two reformers was
also very important for a number of reasons: Shah
Waliullah was one of the first Muslim thinkers to
state the decline of the Mughal Empire and The
vulnerable position of the Muslims was due to the
neglect of the principles of Islam. Shah Waliullah
worked hard to ensure that he was a role model for
other Muslims. His deep understanding about the
Quran, Hadith, Fiqah and Tasawwuf made him a
highly knowledgeable scholar at an early age.Since
he believed that an emphasis on Quranic teachings
was vital to Muslims so Shah Waliullah translated
the HolyQuran into Persian which was the language
of educated Muslims at that time. He also wrote 51
books to explain the principles of Islam. He wrote an
account about the first four Caliphs of Islam in a way
in which it was acceptable to both Shias and Sunnis.
He hoped that this would help to heal the divisions
between them.His writings brought him great fame
and prestige and enabled him to have influence in
other areas too. For example: in economics he
emphasized the need for social justice and for
peasants and craftsmen to be truly valued for their
contribution to the economy. He advised the Muslims
to give up extravagance and wasteful expenditure
on marriages, deaths, births and other occasions.
Wealthy Muslims were asked to look after the poor
and the needy. Shah Waliullah wrote letters to the
rulers of Muslim states asking them to unite and rise
against non-Muslim forces. He invited the Afghan
ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali to deal with Marathas who
were threatening Muslims in Delhi and Punjab.
Ahmad Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas in the
battle of Panipat in 1761 so they were never able to
rise again. Shah Waliullah explained the importance
of JEHAD to the Muslims. He gave the concept of
social justice and advised the Muslims that due
importance and value should be given to peasants
and craftsmen. Haji Shariat Ullah's religion was also
very important. Haji Shariat Ullah started the faraizi
movement to restore the pride of the Muslims and to
remove what he thought were the Hindu practices
that had crept into their worship.The faraizi
movement was important because it gave
encouragement to the Muslims at the time when
they were demoralized by the oppression they
suffered from the Hindus and the British.It brought
about a spiritual revival which led to a revival in the
Islamic religion in East Bengal. Hindu influences
were removed from the Islamic practices. It also had
an important political and economic impact. The
Bengal peasants became united against the harsh
treatment they received. They became aware of their
rights and the political unity began to grow amongst
them. Although the work of another two reformers
was also important, the work of Syed Ahmad was
the most important factor in the revival of Islam in
the SubContinent.
Q-3) why was Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barailvi a very
suitable person to lead opposition to the British?
Ans: Ahmed Barelvi was a Muslim revivalist born in
Bareli during British rule. He tried to renew the Islam
and waged Jihad to tackle the expanding Sikh
Empire in 1826. In 1826, he tried to establish an
Islamic state among the Pashtun tribes with support
of Pashtuns and the network of his friends. He died
in Balakot in 1831 and was called Amir al-Mu'minin
and Shaheed. He was the suitable person to lead
the opposition to British rule because, he used to
consider that if he overthrew non-Muslim emperors
and if somehow he could bring back Muslim power
on the Indian subcontinent then they would have the
chance to defeat the British together.
Q-4) what role did Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barailvi
play in opposing the Sikhs?
or
-Why did Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barelvi conduct a
Jihad against Sikhs in the early nineteenth century?
[7]
(Past Paper, November 2000: Q1/b)
Answer : -
Muslims peasants were leading oppressed lives
under the exploitation of Hindu landlords and tax
collectors. They were humiliated and ill-treated.
Their properties, lives and dignity were not safe from
the hands of Hindus and Sikhs. Syed Ahmed
Shaheed Barelvi (SASB) wanted to restore their
pride, respect and living conditions. That is why he
started Jihad to win freedom for the Muslims so that
they could lead lives according to their own
wishes.In the Sikh regime under Ranjit Singh in
Punjab, Muslims had restrictions in practicing their
faith - even the call to prayers was banned in some
places. This was intolerable, because Muslim
culture, values and religion were in danger. Syed
Ahmed believed that an independent state was
necessary for having religious liberty. Therefore, he
started an armed struggle (Jihad) to get rid of Sikh
rulers.SASB was a great religious leader who
wanted to uproot the evils that had corrupted the
Islamic society.He wanted to purify the Muslim
society from Hindu customs, beliefs, myths,
influences and practices that had crept into their
worship and daily lives. He wanted to clean the
Muslims from social and moral evils.But spiritual
upbringing and purification of their beliefs were not
possible under the control of Sikhs and Hindus. For
this purpose, he launched the Jihad Movement and
revived the desire of Jihad in the Muslims of India.
He made an army of volunteers and gave them
military training.
Q6: What were the aims of Syed Ahmad
Tehrik-e-Jihad movement? To what extent did his
teachings continue to influence Muslims of the
Sub-Continent after his death in 1831? [7-14]
ANS: Syed Ahmad Barelvi Shaheed was born in
1786. He was greatly impressed by the preaching
and thoughts of Shah Waliullah. He joined the
private army of Nawab Amir Khan of Tonk state
where he learnt the art of war. He also learnt about
European weaponry including the art of artillery.Syed
Ahmad Shaheed started preaching true Islam (as
Shah Waliullah did). But he was of the opinion that
there should be a political power behind the
preaching for the revival of Islam and Muslim power
in India. He founded the Jihad Movement for the
restoration and revival of Muslim power in India. His
main objective was the establishment of an Islamic
state on proper Islamic principles. Also the aim of
the Jihad Movement was to liberate the Muslims of
the Punjab and N.W.F.P from the Sikh rule. At that
time (beginning of 19th century) Punjab and N.W.F.P
were under the Sikh rule of Ranjit Singh. Muslims
were facing great difficulty in following their religion
in this area. Therefore, Syed Ahmad chose Punjab
and N.W.F.P for his activities. He also expected help
from the Afghan and Pathan tribes of N.W.F.P. Syed
Ahmad established his headquarters at Nowshera.
His first encounters against the Sikh forces took
place at Okora in which the Mujahideen were
successful. The Pathan tribes joined him and the
number of Mujahidin forces swelled up to 80,000.
But he decided to shift his headquarters to Balakot in
order to liberate Kashmir and. In the meanwhile the
Sikh army attacked Balakot suddenly. The Mujahidin
fought bravely. Nearly 600 Mujahidin were killed
including Syed Ahmad and Shah Ismail. The jihad
movement ended in 1831, but it was a brave and
determined movement effort for the revival of Islam
and Muslim power.Syed Ahmad had no personal
ambition, nor was the purpose to put a certain ruler
on the throne. The aim was to liberate Muslim
population from tyranny and oppression. Syed
Ahmad’s example continued to inspire the future
Muslim generations. His ultimate aim was to create
an Islamic state or a homeland for Muslims in the
Sub-Continent. In this sense the Jihad movement
was a precursor of the later Muslim nationalist in the
SubContinent.
Q6: Why did Syed Ahmad Shaheed Bralvi wish to
revive Islam in the sub continent?
ANS: As a man of action, Syed Ahmad was an ideal
person to act as leader to work Against the British
power in India and to try to ensure that the Muslims
were ruled By fellow Muslims. He believed that the
freedom of the Muslims could only come Because of
armed struggle against the foreign and non-Muslim
forces, which were oppressing them. Syed Ahmad
believed that there was a need to end the evils that
had corrupted Islamic society. Consequently, even
when he served as an army officer he surrounded
himself with the men of great piety who were
prepared to reject worldly Wealth and work for
improving the moral and intellectual lives of Muslims.
The British had ensured that the Mughal emperors
had little real power and the Sikhs were dominant in
the Punjab. Sir Syed founded the Jihad Movement,
which Called for armed struggle to overthrow
non-Muslim oppression and restore Muslim Power.
He believed that once this was done Islam could be
rejuvenated and rescued From beliefs and customs
contrary to Islamic beliefs which had crept into
everyday Life.

SHAH WALIULLAH
Q8: Why did Shah Waliullah have such a major
influence in the revival of Islam in the
Sub-Continent? [7]
ANS: Shah Waliullah worked hard to ensure that he
was a role model for other Muslims. His deep
understanding about the Quran, Hadith, Fiqah and
Tasawwuf made him a highly knowledgeable scholar
at an early age. Since he believed that an emphasis
on Quranic teachings was vital to Muslims so Shah
Waliullah translated the Holy Quran into Persian
which was the language of educated Muslims at that
time.He also wrote 51 books to explain the principles
of Islam. He wrote an account about the first for
Caliphs of Islam in a way in which it was acceptable
to both Shias and Sunnis. He hoped that this would
help to heal the division between them. His writings
brought him great fame and prestige and enabled
him to have influence in other areas too. For
example: in economics he emphasized the need for
social justice and for peasants and craftsmen to be
truly valued for their contribution to the economy.
Shah Waliullah wrote letters to the rulers of Muslim
states asking them to unite and rise against non-
Muslim forces. He invited the Afghan ruler Ahmad
Shah Abdali to deal with Marathas who were
threatening Muslims in Delhi and Punjab. Ahmad
Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas in the battle of
Panipat in 1761 so they were never able to rise
again. Shah Waliullah explained the importance of
JEHAD to the Muslims. He gave the concept of
social justice and advised the Muslims that due
importance and value should be given to peasants
and craftsmen. So, because of these reasons Shah
Waliullah had such a major influence in the revival of
Islam in the Sub-Continent in the 18th Century.
Q: What did Shah Waliullah think were the main
causes of the problems of the Muslims? [4]
ANS: During his time in Arabia, Shah Waliullah
thought deeply about the problems faced by Muslims
in the Mughal Empire. The Empire was in decline
and Muslims were disunited and vulnerable to
attacks on their religion. Shah Waliullah realized that
reform could not come from the weak leadership in
Delhi and
that it would come from within the Muslim community
itself. He believed that many of the problems
resulted from their incomplete knowledge of Quran
and about Islam in general-and it was necessary that
Quranic teachings become more accessible to the
people. A major problem for the Muslim community
was the way it was divided into sectarian groups,
such as Sunnis and Shias. Shah Waliullah wanted
them to concentrate on the fundamental principles of
Islam and put aside their differences, believing that
this would create a more united community. It was
essential to follow the moral and spiritual principles
of Islam in order to create a good society. Un-Islamic
principles were not acceptable in any area of
society,whether politics, economy or just the
day-to-day lives of the individual Muslims.